That's great.
Minister, thank you so much. As a visitor to this committee, I'll keep my questions within the chair's timeline. I want to thank you so much. You've been to my riding several times. I represent the rural area between Red Deer and Edmonton. There are a lot of farmers, a lot of great agricultural land, and great producers in that area, working hard to build our economy, grow our country, and feed Canadians and people around the world.
One of the most important things we've done as a government since coming to office was the changes to the Canadian Wheat Board and the removal of the monopoly. I know this was hotly contested and hotly debated. We know it was the right thing to do. It has unleashed a certain potential that's been held back for so long, in the Western economy in particular.
I see in the estimates here that we've got about $53 million for the Canadian Wheat Board in transition costs. Could you elaborate? I know you've alluded to that before. While the Wheat Board doesn't have the monopoly any more, it does have broadened powers, with the ability to market canola and so on. In your perspective as minister, why is it so important for farmers and producers across the prairies to have these funds for the Wheat Board? Could you reiterate why we've had the success, as you've seen as minister, in this transition to an open market?